AfterGate

Alvin and German conduct a powerful conversation with public health leader and community advocate Dr. Paula Madison Ryner ’92. With over 30 years of experience in the public health sector, Paula has devoted her career to advancing health equity, empowering communities, and championing the well-being of underserved populations. She holds a Doctorate in Health Leadership from Seton Hall University and a dual Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. A highly decorated leader, Paula was recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in New Jersey for four consecutive years (2018–2021) by NJ Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg. In 2024, she was honored with the United States President's Leadership Award from the UNESCO Center for Peace for her transformative contributions to development, peace, and leadership in communities of African descent. Since graduating from Colgate, Paula has been a dynamic force for change, service, and leadership. She is the Immediate Past President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. (Bergen/Passaic chapter), where she led the chapter to be named a national model for four consecutive years. Her community involvement continues through leadership roles including Vice President of the Board of Bergen Volunteers, Vice President and Programs Chair of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Bergen County Chapter), and appointed positions on several local government advisory boards. In addition to her nonprofit leadership, Dr. Madison Ryner is the co-founder of Ryner and Associates, an organizational consulting firm, and is preparing to launch P.Mad Consulting Group, along with a new podcast supporting African American caregivers of loved ones with dementia. At Colgate, Paula was a Night Flight radio host on WRCU, a member of the Sojourners, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology/African American Studies.

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Fintech Investor at Pivot Investment Partners, Atit Amin, ’08. Atit works at the cutting edge of finance and tech, backing transformative companies that are changing the game at the intersection of wholesale finance and enterprise software. At Pivot, he helps founders scale businesses that have already proven product-market fit and are ready to grow with the right strategic partner. Before his current role, Atit gained a wealth of experience in the finance world—serving as a Senior Research Analyst at CEB, an Accounting Analyst at Chartis, and a Summer Analyst at NDC Capital Partners. He even got his start with an early internship at Lloyds TSB. He’s also an active member of the CFA Society New York, demonstrating his continued commitment to the financial industry. At Colgate, Atit was an editor for The Colgate Maroon-News and earned his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Affairs.

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Retired Vice Chairman of ShoreBank Corporation, Todd Brown, ’71.  Todd brings a remarkable track record of success across senior leadership roles in both the corporate and nonprofit sectors. At Kraft Foods, he led three major business divisions, including the company’s e-commerce, foodservice, and desserts units. He has also served on the corporate boards of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Diversey, Inc., and ADVO, Inc., as well as on the board of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A proud trustee emeritus of Colgate University, Todd began his journey in higher education as the second Director of Colgate’s Cultural Center. He later earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School and a master’s degree in college administration from Columbia University. Todd holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Colgate.

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Professional Development Quality Assurance Manager at New York Works for Children, Tinnycua Williams, ’94. A passionate advocate for strength-based programming, Tinnycua is dedicated to empowering children, families, and the professionals who serve them. In her role, she collaborates with city and state licensing agencies, professional organizations, and training providers to elevate high-quality professional development across the early childhood field. She is also an active leader within the National Workforce Registry Alliance (NWRA), where she co-chairs the Professional Development Committee. With more than 20 years of experience, she has provided direct support to children and families while holding leadership roles at organizations such as Homes for the Homeless, Samuel Field YM & YWHA, and Harlem Children’s Zone. At Colgate, she was President of the African American Student Alliance, Resident Advisor of the Harlem Renaissance Center (HRC), campus tour guide, and a member of Konosioni, Colgate’s senior honor society. She is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education (0–8) at City College of the City University of New York and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University.

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Salinas Valley Health Medical Center, Dr. Kenneth A. Jones, '82. He is dedicated to helping women understand their best options and make informed decisions. Throughout all stages of life, from birth onwards, he provides prevention education, diagnosis, and treatment to improve and sustain women's quality of life. Upon graduation, he earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in 1989 and completed his residency at the University of Rochester Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In addition to his medical expertise, Dr. Jones is a wine connoisseur who enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends. He is also known for his great sense of humor and love for a good joke. HE graduated from Colgate with a Bachelor's degree in Biology,

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Principal at Roberts Internet, Tal-ee Roberts, ’01.  As the co-founder and Executive Editor of GearInstitute.com and MilesJunkie.com, he seamlessly combines his love for travel and the outdoors with content creation and digital media. Leading teams to deliver expert advice on gear, destinations, and travel rewards, Tal-ee’s work reaches millions through a vast network of websites and partnerships. With over 20 years of experience as a technology consultant, Tal-ee has helped clients across industries implement innovative internet-based solutions. After Colgate, his passion for business was further fueled by attending the University of Virginia’s LEAD Summer Business Institute. While at Colgate, he honed his writing skills as a columnist for the Colgate Maroon News and earned a B.A. in English & Creative Writing.

Alvin and German conduct a compelling conversation with retired U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission Chief Administrative Law Judge, Covette Rooney ’74. A member of Colgate’s first coed first-year class, Judge Rooney joined the Review Commission as a Federal Administrative Law Judge in 1996 and, in 2011, became its first African American and first woman to be named Chief Administrative Law Judge.   As Chief Judge, she presided over complex and significant disputes related to Occupational Safety and Health Administration citations. She was also responsible for case management and oversight, as well as hiring and training staff, including legal assistants, law clerks, and judges, across the Denver, Atlanta, and National offices.   Earlier in her career, Judge Rooney served as a U.S. Administrative Law Judge at the Social Security Administration in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, where she received the Hattiesburg School District Outstanding African American Award. Before taking the bench, she had a distinguished 14-year tenure with the Philadelphia Regional Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Labor. There, she served as Regional Counsel for the Mine Safety and Health Administration Black Lung Program and as a Senior Trial Attorney.   After graduating from Colgate University with a BA in Political Science, she earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Temple University School of Law. During her time at Colgate, she was a drum major for the football team, a dancer, and an theater enthusiast.

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Retired Educator, Ed Morris.’69. Ed devoted 44 years to the field of education. As a former Mathematics Instructor at Highline College, Ed had a profound impact on countless students, nurturing their critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and solidifying their understanding of mathematics. His influence extended beyond the classroom, as he eventually became a mentor to fellow educators, sharing his teaching strategies to better meet student needs. Ed later pursued advanced studies in Mathematics at the University of Washington. During his time at Colgate, he was a member of the track and field team and graduated with a degree in Mathematics.

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Educator, Max Wynn. ’03.  Originally from Atlanta, Max currently serves as an Academic Integration Specialist at Drew Charter School, one of the top academic institutions in Greater Atlanta. In 2010, Max worked as an assistant football coach at Colgate. His coaching career began at Colgate in 2003, where he was a coach's assistant at Colgate on a team that finished 15-1 and advanced to the Division I-AA championship game. The following year, he served as an assistant coach at Allegheny College before moving on to Westlake High School, where he coached running backs until 2007. As a student-athlete at Colgate, Max was a four-year letter winner and a team captain in his senior season. He earned two-time All-Patriot League honors as a defensive back, with first-team recognition in 2002, and was part of two Patriot League Championship teams in 1999 and 2002. Max holds a bachelor's degree in History from Colgate and a Masters from Mercer University.

Alvin and German conduct a great conversation with Corporate Trainer & Executive Coach, Karl Stewart, ’91. He is the owner of Work Well Groups, LLC, and brings over 20 years of experience in Human Resources. Based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, he is an ICF ACC credentialed and Certified Positive Intelligence Executive Coach. Karl's mission is to train and coach intersectional leaders to embrace their authentic leadership within organizations, fostering sustainable diversity. Karl's career spans significant roles in large HR teams at Warner Media and Paramount. He later led the People Function in smaller organizations, shaping the total Employee Experience in collaboration with company founders and their direct reports. Karl holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Master’s degree in Theater from Brooklyn College. He earned his undergraduate degree in Mathematics from Colgate University.